Visible-index binder



' Dec. 30, 1930. J. L. McMlLLAN 1,786,857

Q- www" am* m1 r11 6, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In saw R f ill nl 'lil i mi i Q R Wr@ nil/.k IN1/wrok if' mm/,l vw.: 140,1 w BY TToR/vfys Dec. 30, 1930. 4 n J, `wlcrvuLlJm 1,786,857

VISIBLE INDEX BINDER Filed April 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 d" "mima,

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Patented Dec.- 30, 1930 *i UNITEDl STATES lgsassi PATENT oFFCE JOHN L1 MCMILLAN, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MCMILLAN BOOK COM- PANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK VISIBLE-INDEX BINDER Applieation ined Aprn 1e, 192s. serial No. 270,423.

This invention relates to ai new and improved visibleindex binder of the type ordinarily called ring binder.` ,y

yln using a loose leaf binder it is frequently 5 desirable to have-the leaves in the binder so arranged that they will provide a visible index of the contents of the binder. c In order to accomplish this result it is necpositioned on the retaining rings or prongs in such a way that a portion of each sheet is exposed to view.

' It is usually necessary in devices of this character to removevsheets therefrom from time to time and insert new sheets'and when this is done it isV usual to place the new sheet A at the bottom of the binder. In order to do this it is necessary that the sheets, 'below the one which has been'` removed, should be moved upwardly so that they will be in, the proper position with relation to the remaining sheets in the binder. j Inf order to facilitate the movement of sheets back and forth in the binder, as desired, a means should be provided whereby such movement A of the Vsheets may be made simultaneously and with- 'out the necessity of entirely removing the sheets from supporting ring or prong. k The main object of my invention is to provide a device which maybe used' as desired in conjunction with a binder for theV purpose of permitting the transfer of sheets from one set of prongs to another whilel at the same on rings. Y Another object of my invention is toV provide -a devicewhich may be used in diiferent parts of the binder at the lusers option and 40 which also may be used with any one of a plurality of similarbinders. k

Other objects and advantages relate to the size, shape and arrangement of parts all as will more fully appear from the Afollowing "35 time the sheets willbe at all times retained descriptiontaken in connection with the vaccompanying drawings in which y Figure l is a top 'plan view of ya binder with the prongs in the open positionand with two ofmy devices inposition, the covers of lthe binder being partially broken away.

8- is positioned on member -2- in .par-

Vposed holes 11--11 in spaced relation.

tion, essary to have sheets which are less in width 10 thanA the binder itself so that they may be Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of'Fig- Y ure l. y y60 Figure 6 is a perspective view of my transferring device. l

Although theA exact construction of 'a binder with which my device may be used is not in all details material particularly as to the means by which the opening and closing of the binder is accomplished yet for the purposeV of illustrating the' construction of my device and the manner in which it is used in conjunction with a binder, I have here shown a binder having a back member 1eanda second back member kh2 in parallel relation therewith, the two back members l vand 2 beingk hingedly connected by hinges B- and AA back plate -5- is affixed to the outer longitudinal edge of member -land a similar back plate -6- is ailixed to the Y outer longitudinal edge of member -2. A

top plate -7- approximately right angular in cross section is positioned on the upper surface of member -1- in parallel spaced relation to back plate 5- and being return benton the top to register with and cover back member 5-'-. A similar top yplate allel spaced relation with 'back plate -6-l. A locking plate '-9- is positioned on the upper surface of member -land overlaps -top member ,-7- to secure the same in position.` A similar locking plate 107.- is positioned on `member 2- and overlies top plate 8f to secure the samek in position. Tlietop surfaces of top members -7-fand -8- are provided with Ya plurality of op- Prongs or arcuate rods 12-l2'l1ave one of their ends secured by welding *or other convenient means in alternate holesvll-ll in each top plate -7-a and V-8-. The prongs v -12- in top plate -7- are in stagfrered're- 100 lation to the prongs -12- in top plate -8- so that when the book is in the closed position as shown in Figure 3 the prongs 12 in top plate -7- will be intermediate the prongs 12 in top plate 8 and will register with holes 11 in top plate -8. Similarly the prongs l2- in top plate -8- will be intermediate the prongs -12- in top plate -7- and will register with holes -11- in top plate -'-7.

For the purpose of releasably securing the binder in the open or closed position I provide at the opposite ends thereof similar devices consisting of an end plate -13- secured to member 1- and carrying acent `one e (je a lug -14-. A second end plate -15- is affixed to the end of member -2- and Ais provided with a slot -fl6-. A locking member -A-17 is pivotally mounted in end plate -15- by means of rod 18- and is provided at one side of the pivot with an elongated slot -19- engaged with lug I4- Locking plate -17# carries, on the other side of the pivot, a tongue 20- which extends inwardly through slot -16- and also carries an outwardly extending tab -2l-. On the inner face of end plate 15- .and encircling rod -18- there is vpositioned a coiled spring -22- having one end in en'- gagement with tongue -20- to normally holdtongue i-20- at the upper end of slot ald-f. Rod -18- has one end rigidly secured to locking plate 17 and extends through member -2- carrying on its other end a locking plate .23- similar in design to locking plate -17- and coacting in a similar manner with end plates, not shown, of the same design and construction as end plates -13- and l5- just described.

The opposite ends of slot -19- are formed with recesses -24- and 25 in which lug -14- is releasably held by the action of springs 22+ so that in order to move members -1- and 2% in relation to each other Y it is necessary to pivot locking plate -17- by means of tab e-21- in order that lug .-14- may be moved out of a recess and thence to the other end of slot --19-. When the book is in the closed position lug --14H is. in recess -724- as may be seen in Figure -3 and when the book is in the open position lug -14. is in recess -25 as may be seen from Figure 4.

' I provide between back plate 5 and top plate .-.7- a slide -26- abutting against the ends of prongs l2- and being provided with a plurality of tongues -27-. When the slide -26- is pushed inwardly the tongues *527-* will not register with the open holes ,-114- in top plate -i-'ffbut when the slide 26? is pulled outwardly as shown in Figure 2 the tongues -27f, will register with the open holes l1 extending approxi- .metely @relish-th. Center ef the Open holes --11-. The purpose of tongues -27- on slide -26- will be hereinafter described.

My transferring device consists of an arcuate rod -28- composed of two substantially equal portions -29- and BO- connected by a central angular portion whereby the end portions `are o'set so as to be in two separate parallel planes and of a size and shape conforming to the shape and size of prongs -12-. The degree to which end portion -29- `is offset with relation to end portion -30- is such that when end -30- is inserted into a hole -11 in top plate -7- the opposite end -29- will be in a position to register with one of the holes -llin top plate 8 that are nearest opposite said first hole.

I provide in the ends of arcuate rod -28- slots -31- and S2- When arcuate rod 2S-is in position in holes r-ll and slide 2(3a is pulled outwardly a tongue 27 will register with a slot as m32- to lock the arcuate rod -28- in position. A second slide, 26, is positioned between back plate 6* and top plate -8- for coaction with the slots as 3lin arcuate rod 2S- when the latter is in position in a hole -11- in top plate -8-.

For the purpose of providing the binder with a protective and ornamental covering I provide on member -1 back strips 33- and B4- and on member -2- back strips V-35- and --86.

It will be understood that my binder is provided with the usual pair of opposed covers as S7- and *38e hingedly connected to back plates -5- and -6- respectively.

lVhen it is desired to use my device for changing the relative position of sheets in the binder I depress one of the tabs -21- to release locking plates -17 and I then open the binder into the position shown in Figure l. I then place one of my arcuate rods -28- in position with one end extending through a hole as S9- through leaf -40# (shown in Figure 1 partially broken away) and into a hole -11- in top plate -7-. I then place the opposite end of arcuate rod -28- into a hole 1l in top plate -8--. Slides 2626 are then pulled outwardly in the manner heretofore described to lock arcuate rod -28- in position.

In order to facilitate the transfer of a sheet it is preferable that a second arcuate rod 2S- be placed through another hole -39- in sheet 40- and locked in position in the manner just described.

As perhaps may best be seen from Figure 1 sheet -40- may then be pulled upwardly Von prongs -12- and arcuate rods -28-.

When sheet -40- leaves the ends of prongs -12- -it will be carried diagonally across the binder on the guiding means furnished by arcuate rods -28 so that when it is in po- SitOn to have prengs -1 2-v, 011th@ @posingr back member of the binder, enter holes n S9-- the sheet Will have moved laterally of the binder into the position shown in dotted lines on Figure 1. The arcuate rods w28-may then be removed from the binder and the binder closed. y

It will be understood that as many sheets may be moved in one operationl as desired, and it Will also be understood that 'the sheets may be moved longitudinally of the binder in either direction as desired depending upon the side of the binder the sheet is placed on when the transferring operation is begun.

It Will also be understood that the distance a sheet is to be moved in one operation may be varied as desired by the spacing and shape of the prongs 12- of the binder and the arcuate rods -28-, for although I have shown and described a specific structure and association of parts I do not desire to restrict myself to the exact size, shape or relation of parts as various changes may be made Within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a device of the class described, a pair of opposed back members hingedly connected together, a member carrying a plurality of spaced prongs and having apertures between adjacent prongs affixed to each of the back members and an arcuate rod having relatively laterally oilset end portions and having one end removably positioned in an'aperture in one prong-supporting member and having its other end similarly positioned in the other prong-supporting member.

2. In a device of the class described, a pair of opposed back members hingedly connected together, a member carrying a plurality of spaced prongs and having lapertures between adjacent prongs afixedto each of the back members, an arcuate rod having relatively laterally offset end portions and having one end adapted to be releasably secured in an aperture in one prong-supporting member and having its other end adapted to be similarly releasably secured in the other prong-sup porting member, and means for releasably securing the ends of the arcuate rod in the prong-supporting members.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination a loose leaf binder having opposed back members, an arcuate rod having relatively laterally offset ends portionsv and means forcreleasably securing one end of the rod on one of the back members and the other end on the other back member.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9 day of April, v1928. Y.

J OI-IN L. MOMILLAN. 

